Avocado Recipe

The avocado fruit has been hailed for a variety of beneficial and healing properties, from culinary and nutritional benefits to cosmetic and health advantages. Avocados are used to create delicious salads and dips and main dishes too. Use it for its protein and fiber content, for its Vitamin E and antioxidant properties. Look up simple and quick avocados recipes.

Avocado fruit

The avocado fruit is pear shaped and the avocado tree grows well in in subtropical and tropical climates. Nearly 95% of the world's avocados come from California. In fact San Diego County is called the Avocado Capital of the World. The avocado fruit has a large central seed and a paper-thin skin that is glossy green or black when ripe.

The flesh of the avocado fruit is deep green near the skin but turns yellowish as it gets closer to the seed. There have been many dietary myths surrounding this fruit and it is therefore avoided by many people. On the contrary, the nutritional content of the avocado fruit is high and it offers many health benefits. Not only are avocados used in salads and dips but they are increasingly finding their way into desserts, breads and other recipes. You can use them in the classic Spanish gazpacho or eat them raw and fresh.

Avocado-based cosmetics are becoming very popular with women seeking natural ingredients for makeup, sunscreen, bath oil and hair conditioner. Avocado oil has softening and soothing properties and a higher skin penetration rate when compared with almond, police and soybean oil. Avocados work well for dry skin. Rub the inside of the skin of the avocado fruit on your face and use it for effective face masks too. Avocado oil is considered beneficial in treatment of psoriasis by helping in shedding of scales. Avocado works wonders for bad breath.

Avocado recipe

Avocado gazpacho recipe

3 ripe avocados
1/2 cucumber
1 green pepper
1 green chili
1 Spanish onion, skinned
1 clove garlic, peeled
fresh cilantro
Juice of 1 lime

Blend cucumber, pepper, chili, onion and garlic with water. Cut and stone avocados and press them to remove the juice. Return strained liquid to blender with avocado flesh, cilantro, lime juice and salt. Puree the mixture and serve chipped with dollops of sour cream and lime quarters.

Chicken and Avocado Rice recipe

Cooked rice
Cooked chicken
Peeled and cut avocados
Lemon juice
Sliced Celery
Juilienned Bell pepper
Minced onions
Minced garlic
Ground white pepper
Sugar and salt to taste

Combine cooked rice and chicken with other ingredients and seasonings. Toss and refrigerate. Serve with salad greens and tomato wedges as garnish.

Avocado pie recipe

Honey
Graham cracker crumbs
Butter
Cream cheese
Ripe avocados
Lime juice
Vanilla
Coconut
Condensed milk

Melt butter and stir in honey and graham cracker crumbs for making a crust. Fill this into the bottom of the pie dish. Bake it for about 15 minutes. Combine cream cheese, condensed milk and blend along with lime juice and mashed avocado meat. Add a pinch of salt and vanilla. Pour over the cooked pie crust and garnish with coconut. Refrigerate for about 6 hours.

Avocados and crab salad recipe

Mix crab meat, avocado meat, lime juice, olive oil, chopped onions, cilantro, minced garlic and chopped jalapeno chilies and chill for an hour. Serve on a bed of lettuce leaves.

Avocado nutrition

Since avocados are nutritionally packed with vitamins A, E and potassium, they are hailed as excellent antioxidants and can keep heart disease and cancers at bay. On an average, an avocado has 340 calories. It contains more fat but of a high quality. The high levels of Vitamin A in avocados help fight bacterial infection. The protein nutrition from avocados is also second to none. In addition, there are other nutritional benefits of avocados:

• Lutein is a carotenoid associated with healthy eye, heart and prostate function.
  
  
• Glutathione functions as an antioxidant like vitamin E.
  
  
• Folate helps promote healthy cell and tissue development.
  
  
• Potassium helps balance the body's electrolytes and regulate blood pressure.

Oleic acid is the monounsaturated fat that is contained in avocados. A diet that included regular servings of avocados showed substantial decrease in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. A cup of avocados can provide nearly 23% of the daily folate nutrients necessary for good health. Women who consume higher dietary folate have a lower risk of having heart attacks or fatal heart disease.

Avocado dip

You can whip up a delicious avocado dip with low-fat cottage cheese, onion flakes, garlic, cayenne pepper, lemon juice and chunks of avocado and tomato. Blend them in a food processor till smooth and creamy. Refrigerate this avocado dip and serve cold. It goes well with celery and carrot sticks and low fat corn chips. You can conjure a delicious avocado dip by blending together avocado, basil, pineapple concentrate, chives and salt. Blend together the Mexican Guacamole with avocado, cumin, oregano, chilli powder and salt. You can create some exciting avocado recipes by teaming them with noodles and various sauces to set your taste buds tingling. Use dill, mayonnaise, yogurt and white pepper for marinades. Blend ripe avocados with sour cream, green onion dip mix and lemon juice for a tasty dip that can be served with carrot slices, broccoli florets and cucumber roundles.

Avocado salad

Avocado salads can be created with your favorite salad recipes. Just add avocados to add to the flavor and nutritive value. Whip up a delicious avocado salad with lettuce, white pepper, oregano, garlic, thyme and vinegar. You can scoop out little balls of avocado meat and use them in salads. Another interesting avocado salad recipe can be created with hard boiled eggs. Use Louisiana hot sauce and dill pickles and serve with mashed avocado pieces and tuna.

Avocado salad recipe

tablespoon sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
3 tablespoons corn oil
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
sugar and salt to taste
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
minced scallion
chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 small avocado ripe
lettuce leaves

Mix all sauces, vinegar, oil and salt and sugar for soaking scallions and chicken strips. Cut out cubes of avocado and toss together in the above dressing. Serve on a bed of lettuce leaves. This avocado salad goes well with French buns or garlic bread. Whip up a tasty avocado salad with Sardines, chickpeas and salad dressing. Mix sardines, chickpeas, chopped avocados, segmented oranges, chopped tomatoes, chopped red chillies and salad leaves. Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, paprika and chilli powder to pour on the salad ingredients.

Avocado oil

Avocado oil is slowly becoming a popular cooking oil. With a high smoking point at 225 C, avocado oil is being increasingly used over salads, steamed vegetables and for soups and sauté. Avocado oil is rich in vitamins E and D and has properties to lower LDL levels. This is mainly due to the natural plant compound Beta-Sitosterol that prevents absorption of LDL in the bloodstream. Studies conducted show that avocado oil reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and prostate incidence.

It is free of trans fatty acids and cholesterol-inducing fats. Premium, extra virgin avocado oil can be substituted for olive oil in cooking or food dressing. It has a higher viscosity than olive oil and does not disguise the flavor of food. You can pick up many popular brands of Avocado oil made in Australia and New Zealand. It's nutty flavor can be used to drizzle potatoes or salad dressings and marinades.